So he started diving to get away from his girlfriend and he likes to Gamble!
Lets find out more about Iain Irving, Instructor/Co Owner Island Watersports Lanzarote.
Why did you start Scuba Diving?
Well, Marie and I went to Thailand in 2001 and the airline lost Marie’s case. After 3 days of bad tempered girlfriend I needed to find something to do or one of us would not have left the Island! I enrolled in a PADI Open Water Course and got hooked.
In your spare time what do you like to do?
Spare time? I like watching Rugby now as I am too old to play anymore and motor cycling. I would like to buy an enduro bike to tour Lanzarote but Marie wants a new bathroom first.
What drove you to become a Scuba Diving Instructor?
I always wanted to live abroad and totally agree with the old adage ‘choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life’. OK it is not that simple and it didn’t happen over night. I really enjoyed my diving while Marie had some fantastic holidays along the way.
Do you have a favourite type of dive?
If I had to choose I would say Night Dives, it really is so different at night. I love encounters with the larger animals like Rays and we see them feeding at night which is just amazing. I enjoy all my dives, but seeing Angel Sharks and Rays on a daily basis is just a privilege.
Apart from Lanzarote, what is your favourite scuba diving destination?
That is such a difficult question, it really is, I have dived in some excellent locations all around the world. It’s not just about the diving , it’s also about the other divers you meet, the friends you make and the memories.We have made so many great friends here in Lanzarote.
For the total experience I would say Barbados while diving with Ram on The Scotch and Soda in Carlisle Bay. Ram was the Instructor who got Marie to dive, now that guy had patience. We met some lovely people there and the horse racing at Bridgetown was a real bonus, I remember we won 1500 dollars on one trip.
What is the Best thing about being an Instructor?
Whether it is a non diver discovering scuba for the first time, or a certified diver learning new skills, it is just a great job. I get as much enjoyment out of our students success as they do.
Why did you decide to move to Lanzarote?
We felt at home straight away, we visited with our dive club from the UK in February 2014 and by November 2014 we had moved here. That pretty much sums it up. Lanzarote is unlike any other Canary Island thanks to the influences of Cesar Manrique. Friendly people, relaxed safe environment and obviously fantastic diving for all levels.
Any Regrets?
Probably the obvious answer here is that I didn’t do it earlier.
Located in Playa Blanca in the south of the Island, just 30 minutes from our dive centre is Museo Atlantico, Europe’s only underwater museum.
Since the first installations back in 2016, the Museo Atlantico has proved to be a very popular dive site and a ‘must do’ for many of our scuba diving visitors. At a depth of 14 meters this dive is suitable for all certified divers and now non divers have the opportunity to dive here too.
Our guide Iain Irving was delighted to see a spiny sea star making it’s home on the girls head at the hybrid section, wrapping itself around the bun on the back of her head.
